On 16 October, several trials took place in Homel, following the charges brought against a number of local activists for participating in the 16 September Hanchar and Krasouski memorial demonstration.Judge Vital Kozyrau of Homel Chyhunachny Court has convicted oppositional Communist activist Uladzimer Siakerka of taking part in an illegal rally and despite ample evidence in favour of the activist fined him BYR 700,000.Another opposition activist – BPF member Anatol Paplauny asked the judge to sentence him to imprisonment, since he ‘did not want to support the broke anti-national regime with his own money.’